Guitar Necks: Find the Perfect Fit for Your Playing Style.
Are you considering upgrading your guitar neck? Or maybe you’re stuck in a rut and want to make your instrument feel more comfortable and responsive? Whatever your reasons for wanting to change your guitar’s neck, there are considerations you should make. From shape and size to construction materials and fret size, selecting a new guitar neck is an important decision whose outcome could determine the trajectory of your playing.
As there are so many different types of guitar necks available, the choice boils down to personal preferences. To help you make an educated decision, in this blog post we’ll break down the details of guitar necks and cover some of the most popular options on the market.
The shape of a guitar neck plays a huge role in how comfortable it is to play. Modern guitar necks come in three different shapes: flat, V, and round. A flat-shaped neck provides the least curvature while a round neck has more curvature. A V-shaped neck is somewhere in the middle. Most of the time, V-shaped necks are found in the more vintage instruments such as those from the ’50s, while the modern guitars tend to have round and flat neck shapes.
The size of a guitar neck is measured according to its scale length. The scale length is the distance from the bridge to the nut. The longer the scale length, the larger the strings will feel and therefore the wider the neck will be. On the contrary, a short scale length can make the strings feel thinner and the neck narrower.
The construction materials affect the tonal characteristics of the guitar neck. The most popular choices are maple, mahogany, rosewood, and ebony. Maple is hard and tight sounding; mahogany imparts a mellower tone with more warmth as well as softer attack. Rosewood adds warmth and clarity and ebony increases the highs and lows for a more an articulate tone.
Fret size is an area where different players have their own personal preference. Fret wire that is too small can feel cramped for some players, while larger fret wire will give you more room to move around the fretboard. The most popular sizes are medium jumbo and extra jumbo.
Finally, the neck joint plays an important role in the overall feel of the guitar. There are two types of joint options: bolt-on and set-neck. Bolt-on necks are easier to repair in the case of any damage and offer easier access to the higher frets. A set neck offers better sustain and tone but requires professional repair should there be damage.
Choose the guitar neck that best suits your playing style. All of the elements discussed here will determine the sound and playability of your instrument. Whatever you decide, making the right choice in the beginning can save you time and money down the road.